Tyre tips for safe travel this festive season

The festive period often spells long car journeys to visit loved ones and countless errands around town in preparation for the big day. Combined with cold and unpredictable weather, this can become a chaotic and stressful time of year, so it’s important to have a well maintained vehicle that can get you from A to B as smoothly as possible.

Here’s our top tips to ensure a safe and comfortable drive, for you, your passengers and others on the road.

Adjust your pressures when it turns cold

Every 10°C the temperature falls can affect a tyre’s pressure by between 1 and 2 PSI. Although the UK doesn’t suffer from severe winters, it’s important to pay close attention to tyre pressures when a sudden cold snap hits to ensure you are not driving at the incorrect inflation, as this can have an impact on the tyre’s handling and braking capabilities.

We recommend drivers check their tyre pressure once a month as standard.

Check for damage

Visible tyre checks become even more important as winter brings increased risk. Look out for any deformations in the tread such as cuts, bumps or bulges. If you discover anything you are unsure of, get it checked at your local garage before embarking on any long journeys.

Check your tread depth with this 20p coin hack

Driving on icy or snowy roads without sufficient tread puts you, your passengers and other motorists on the road in danger as it can impact the tyre’s ability to grip and brake effectively. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, however we would advise a minimum of 3mm during the winter season for a more assured and safe drive when navigating slippery road surfaces.

The 20p test is a simple, quick and easy way of checking your tyre tread. Just take a 20p coin and insert it into the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can’t see the outer band of the coin, your tyres are above the legal limit.

Travel lightly

It can be tricky to avoid driving with a heavy load over the festive period. If you’re planning to travel with a full car – passengers, luggage, presents and food – your tyres will be working harder than usual.

Your tyres must be able to support the total weight of the vehicle while withstanding deformations, speed and heat build-up. Excessive heat can cause tread separation and sidewall damage. 

If you do need to carry a heavier load than normal, adjust your tyre pressure accordingly. The correct levels can be found in your vehicle handbook.

If you’re heading out on any festive journeys, make sure you take the time to check your tyre health as part of any preparation. For extra peace of mind, consider an all-season tyre which is built for year-round performance, eliminating the need to change tyres between seasons. 

Our all-season passenger car tyre, the Alltoura 4-Seasons, performs optimally in temperate climates like the UK, offering superior control in dry braking and wet handling, while helping to prevent aquaplaning. 

For more information about our winter and all-season products, or for more advice on driving over the winter season, contact your local Davanti dealer.